Page 17 of All's Fair in Lion and War
Perhaps that was why her mind was broken? Perhaps losing her mate had damaged her so infinitely that she refused to remember the horror of it?
She removed her hand from Saul’s mane and shifted into her lion to stand right next to him. It’d been so long. Well, it felt like it for her lion. Maybe it had been. Maybe it hadn’t.
Lorelei shook her huge head and roared gently, letting some of her frustration vent. She was so tired though. If Saul wanted her to run, she wouldn’t last long.
Saul’s big face nudged her.Right.He didn’t want her to roar. They needed to be quiet.
She hated that she feared Rivian and his warriors, but she did. And the last thing she wanted was for that bastard to get his hands on her again.
They moved off through the snow away from the cabin, but their jaunt was short-lived.
A lion blocked their way, teeth bared, a warning not to run. It was one. They could handle this lone scout. She took another step and curled her lips over her fangs, revealing her displeasure. A low rumble started in her throat and grew until it overflowed from her throat.
In the space of a moment, Saul’s posture changed from defensive to offensive.
Before she could take another step toward Rivian’s warrior, Saul was airborne, leaping toward the other lion.
The other lion leapt at the same time.
The two giants collided in the air and fell to the ground with snarls and a swirl of snow. Saul swiped out and knocked the enemy to the ground.
Rumbling growls vibrated through her body, tensing every single muscle. Copper scented the air. Blood was shed on both sides.
Then they were up, facing each other, mouths open.
It was like a dance to see who could get ahold of the other first.
Saul lunged then feinted, sweeping a paw out and knocking the other lion to the ground again. He clearly had more experience. Snow flew in every direction as their bodies twisted and turned. Saul ripped at the warrior’s belly and then tore tufts of mane from the other lion’s neck.
Rivian’s warrior pushed with his paws, desperately trying to keep Saul from latching onto his neck. But Saul was stronger and he slammed the other lion down to the ground, over and over and over.
Lorelei moved forward. Moved closer.
The roaring and growling continued several more minutes. At one point Rivian’s male had Saul on the ground, but only for a moment. Then the tables were turned again and this time the sound of ripping flesh and stilled bodies signaled the end.
Saul removed himself from the tangle of limbs, shook out his mane and chuffed at her. He didn’t stop to clean himself of the warrior’s blood. Instead he was at her side in a moment, nudging her gently but insistently to move away from the scene.
She did as he asked, following his long loping gait all the way down the mountainside.
Hours had passed,but they didn’t stop. Saul couldn’t afford another fight like that in the same day. Her lungs and legs burned from the run. When he finally slowed down she collapsed to the ground, sucking in deep breaths.
So tired. So very tired.
He shifted from his lion and walked from the trees into the large gravel-paved clearing surrounding another cabin.
Lorelei stared from the cover of the forest. This cabin was huge compared to the one they’d been in this morning. And the scent of many Reyleans hung in the air, making her lion’s tail twitch nervously.
More than lions lived nearby. And something much bigger and much scarier.
“Lorelei.” Saul called her name and motioned her to follow him.
She shook her head and refused to move from the shelter of the trees. He was crazy. She could smell dragon all over this place. Nobody messed with dragons. Not even a queen.
“Naomi,” Saul called another woman’s name and knocked on the door.
Another woman’s name on his lips perturbed her, even though he’d told her Naomi was hisVraka’smate.
Oh, by Fate. His Vraka was a dragon.
